I began blogging at the start of the new year, so about 5 months ago. It feels like longer because the blog has become such an important part of me!

3. What do you love / hate about blogging?

My favorite thing about blogging is the community that it creates. I love that we can all share ideas and tips, and that we can provide each other with motivation and encouragement. Even though I’ve never met most of my fellow bloggers in person, they still feel like friends to me!

The only part of blogging that I sometimes find frustrating is my occasional writer’s block. I work really hard to make my blog interesting and engaging, but sometimes the juices just aren’t flowing!

4. What’s your favorite color?

It’s a tie between yellow and purple – fortunately they go well together!

5. Favorite movie?

I don’t think I’m enough of a movie person to have a favorite, but here are some I’d rank high: Little Miss Sunshine, Slumdog Millionaire, WALL-E, and – of course – Dirty Dancing!

6. Favorite book?

This one is especially difficult for me because I majored in literature as an undergrad. But I think my favorite book of all-time is To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. It was the first book I read where I actually felt sad when it was over; I wanted it to go on for another hundred pages!

My current favorites are No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain (a food and travel-lover’s dream!), Grey’s Anatomy, and House Hunters. Growing up, I was a die-hard fan of Legends of the Hidden Temple (Blue Barracudas, anyone?).

10. Do you like playing sports? Watching sports?

I played field hockey in high school and absolutely loved it – both the sport itself and the friendship and camaraderie that came from being on the team. Nowadays I don’t play any organized sports, and I rarely watch them; for some reason they just don’t keep my attention!

11. Are you a coffee or tea person? Or neither?

TEA! I drink at least two cups of hot tea a day – one with caffeine in the morning, and a decaffeinated cup after dinner. Here are two of my current favorites.

12. Do you have tattoos or piercings?

Just my ear piercings…I’m sort of a plain Jane kinda gal. :)

13. Do you have any special talents?

You know that dance that Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Lion do as they head down the Yellow Brick Road? I have it down to a "T"!

14. If you could go anywhere in the world TOMORROW, where would you go?

I would visit the orphanage my in-laws helped to start in the African country of Namibia. I’ve been wanting to go there ever since I started dating my husband and first heard about it!

15. Last thing you ate?

I just finished a wonderful dinner from the grill – bison burgers and veggie kabobs. Delicious!

16. When you were young, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A teacher! I always loved school; my teachers were my heroes and I wanted to be just like them.

There’s this great little bistro simply called “B” in the Bolton Hill neighborhood of Baltimore. I can still taste the fresh goat cheese and beet salad I had for my first course, and the butternut squash ravioli I had for my second. Absolutely delicious!

20. Favorite store?

Most of my wardrobe is from New York & Company, Gap, and Target. I am in heaven perusing Anthropologie and Crate & Barrel. :)

21. Favorite animal?

Cats will always hold a very special place in my heart. How can they not when I live with such adorable ones?

22. Favorite thing to cook/make?

I love making stuffed peppers because they look so much more impressive and difficult than they actually are!

23. Most embarrassing guilty pleasure?

Please don’t hate me, but the truth is The Real Housewives of New York. I can’t watch the show without yelling at the television, and yet I keep tuning in!!! Perhaps because I always end up thinking, “Good thing I’m not wealthy or I could end up like that!” Haha!

24. Do you have any nicknames?

My nickname growing up was Tater Tot. Don’t ask me why because I have no idea!

25. List one thing the “blog world” doesn’t know about you but should!

I love taking photos of my food, but part of the challenge is finding the right angle – that being the one where the clutter that constantly covers my dining room table is outside of the camera’s eye! Tricky! :)